Labour Start News

8/22/2005

The Human Resources Committee of the Navajo Nation Council voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement that would be a first contract for more than 800 Head Start workers, represented by the United Mine Workers of America, who work in schools throughout the Nation in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

"This is a tremendous step forward for these hard-working members, who only recently gained a voice at work through UMWA representation" said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. "I salute the Human Resources Committee members for their historic decision."

Roberts noted that the workers will now have the opportunity to review the details of the tentative agreement as part of the ratification process. "The final decision on this contract is now up to them, through the UMWA's democratic ratification process," Roberts said. "We look forward to that process being completed within the next several weeks."